Guj: Singhal lambasts Modi as 'Mahmud Ghazni'

Gandhinagar, Nov 21: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Ashok Singhal has lambasted Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's government for razing Hindu temples in the state 'like emperor Mahmud of Ghazni'.

Mr Singhal, after visiting the site of demolished Sai Baba temple here yesterday, said, ''Mahmud of Ghazni used to do this. The government here is playing with the sentiments of the people. I don't know what are they going to gain from this.'' Mr Singhal expressed his anguish over the drive carried out by the local authorities and asked the government to stop razing the religious structures as it hurts the sentiments of the people.

A Hanuman temple was pulled down yesterday, after the Sai Baba shrine was demolished on November 18. At least 154 temples have been destroyed in the district over a week.

Meanwhile, political analysts here say that Mr Modi is now desperate to acquire a new image of a secular man in view of the upcoming elections.

UNI